Have you ever thought about the black board ( or white board in a classroom).
Teachers come, write on it, children learn in different proportions and then its erased, sometimes completely and sometimes not quite, and periodically it is cleaned and made as good as new....
Does the blackboard learn or change....or is just part of the lecture and a witness to the whole process.
Its unchanging. Just like the sky does not change whether it is rain or shine??? The clouds come & go , day & night happens...but the sky just remains.
Sunday, 29 September 2013
Friday, 27 September 2013
Table legs & BMI
When you want to pull a table if you cannot lift, and pull one leg , we can get the table to move.
Now when we are trying to be good / spiritual etc and one part of us ( a bad habit or a sensory organ) is pulling is in the other direction ( telling lies/ eating wrong foods/ gossiping...) then will we move in the right direction or stay steady ??? or get pulled in wrong direction.
Point here is that our thought, words, intentions and actions are like table legs and need to be aligned and working in harmony to be steady & then move together in one direction that all agree.
So the body, mind, intellect (BMI) all need to be working together.
Now when we are trying to be good / spiritual etc and one part of us ( a bad habit or a sensory organ) is pulling is in the other direction ( telling lies/ eating wrong foods/ gossiping...) then will we move in the right direction or stay steady ??? or get pulled in wrong direction.
Point here is that our thought, words, intentions and actions are like table legs and need to be aligned and working in harmony to be steady & then move together in one direction that all agree.
So the body, mind, intellect (BMI) all need to be working together.
UNIVERSE
Just struck me that the word could be interpreted as
U N I , so all of us
VERSE ; learn about the verse
So all Gita study groups are a representation of the universe ...
U N I , so all of us
VERSE ; learn about the verse
So all Gita study groups are a representation of the universe ...
Monday, 23 September 2013
Three ways of understanding GOD
Number 3 is back. And GOD has 3 letters!!!!
Well recently heard that
1. Some people understand God as 1 God . My personal favourite deity or that there is only one God
2. Others believe God is in many forms, Ganesha, Jesus, Saraswati, Laxmi ....etc . And with in those some believe , eventually one God, but different forms. ( Like all eat carbs in different forms of wheat : roti, bread, paratha, pita bread, noodles, pizza, pasta)
3. God is in everything and is everywhere, omnipresent ....and when we see the beauty of God in everything......the breeze, the plants, the rain, the warm sunshine, the grass, the children screaming in the playground...just everything is the glory of God....
Well recently heard that
1. Some people understand God as 1 God . My personal favourite deity or that there is only one God
2. Others believe God is in many forms, Ganesha, Jesus, Saraswati, Laxmi ....etc . And with in those some believe , eventually one God, but different forms. ( Like all eat carbs in different forms of wheat : roti, bread, paratha, pita bread, noodles, pizza, pasta)
3. God is in everything and is everywhere, omnipresent ....and when we see the beauty of God in everything......the breeze, the plants, the rain, the warm sunshine, the grass, the children screaming in the playground...just everything is the glory of God....
Gita : Science of Life
Gita has been called a manual for life, rule book, guide and even "Science of Life"
The Wiki definition of Science
"Science (from Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge"[1]) is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.[2][3] In an older and closely related meaning, "science" also refers to a body of knowledge itself, of the type that can be rationally explained and reliably applied."
Another simplistic definition is when some principles are tested , experimented and then the knowledge is shared.
For example gravity or Archimide's principle. Its not that things did not fall before gravity was termed so or that things floated differently before Archimide's observed the phenomena
Well in relation to Gita one can say it has the fundamental truths & principles of of life that do not change over a period of time
The Wiki definition of Science
"Science (from Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge"[1]) is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.[2][3] In an older and closely related meaning, "science" also refers to a body of knowledge itself, of the type that can be rationally explained and reliably applied."
Another simplistic definition is when some principles are tested , experimented and then the knowledge is shared.
For example gravity or Archimide's principle. Its not that things did not fall before gravity was termed so or that things floated differently before Archimide's observed the phenomena
Well in relation to Gita one can say it has the fundamental truths & principles of of life that do not change over a period of time
Friday, 20 September 2013
Explanation of God & Religion
(A copy paste from from my friend Meenakshi's FaceBook post with her permission).
Explanation of God & Religion for my children-
Man could not decide what to name the goodness in humanity. The good occurs, many a times, without any reason and effort. This boon was named God. Good became God. It is timeless, indestructible and gives hope. No one created it, we just named the phenomenon. Exactly, for the same reason we call happy, 'happy'.
Corollary would be religion. If you assume that God is milk then religion is like the kheer made from it. Everyone makes their own way and all taste good. But if you are not careful, kheer can get spoiled but people do not accept their folly and pass on the blame to milk. Other people would say, "My brand of milk is better, try it". That is evangelization.
This is what I have learnt from my grandfather & my motherland. And, this is what I hope to inculcate in my children.
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Who is a Hindu? ( A copy paste from an FB post)
A Hindu was flying from JFK New York Airport to SFO San Francisco Airport CA to attend a meeting at Monterey, CA.
An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.
He was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.He told her that I am from India
Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' He didn't understand the question.
'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'
'No!' He replied, 'He am neither Christian nor Muslim'.
Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' “I am a Hindu”, He said.
She looked at him as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what He was talking about.
A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today.
But a Hindu, what?
He explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.
'Who is your prophet?' she asked.
'We don't have a prophet,' He replied.
'What's your Holy Book?'
'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,'
He replied.
'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'
'What do you mean by that?'
'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'
He thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.
According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. He understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God.
He tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one God and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in God at all, still you can be a Hindu. An Atheist can also be a Hindu.'
This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.
'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'
What can He tell to this American girl?
He said: 'I do not go to Temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes'.
'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'
'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'
She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'
'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' He told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..
'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.
'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'
'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'
'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' He told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal Gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.
'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'
'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'
लोका समस्ता सुखिनो भवन्तु !!! ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः !!!
'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'
'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Let there be Peace, Peace,and Peace every where.'
'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.
'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'
'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'
'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but it is a Culture, a way of leaving life, a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you on behalf of Hinduism.'
He told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one Guru to the next.
For a real seeker, He told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.
Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.
Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas. It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.
Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.
He said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'
He said "I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' means - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.
A man/woman who changes his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.
Hinduism is the original rather a natural yet a logical and satisfying spiritual, personal and a scientific way of leaving a life..
An American girl was sitting on the right side, near window seat. It indeed was a long journey - it would take nearly seven hours.
He was surprised to see the young girl reading a Bible unusual of young Americans. After some time she smiled and we had few acquaintances talk.He told her that I am from India
Then suddenly the girl asked: 'What's your faith?' 'What?' He didn't understand the question.
'I mean, what's your religion? Are you a Christian? Or a Muslim?'
'No!' He replied, 'He am neither Christian nor Muslim'.
Apparently she appeared shocked to listen to that. 'Then who are you?' “I am a Hindu”, He said.
She looked at him as if she was seeing a caged animal. She could not understand what He was talking about.
A common man in Europe or US knows about Christianity and Islam, as they are the leading religions of the world today.
But a Hindu, what?
He explained to her - I am born to a Hindu father and Hindu mother. Therefore, I am a Hindu by birth.
'Who is your prophet?' she asked.
'We don't have a prophet,' He replied.
'What's your Holy Book?'
'We don't have a single Holy Book, but we have hundreds and thousands of philosophical and sacred scriptures,'
He replied.
'Oh, come on at least tell me who is your God?'
'What do you mean by that?'
'Like we have Jesus and Muslims have Allah - don't you have a God?'
He thought for a moment. Muslims and Christians believe one God (Male God) who created the world and takes an interest in the humans who inhabit it. Her mind is conditioned with that kind of belief.
According to her (or anybody who doesn't know about Hinduism), a religion needs to have one Prophet, one Holy book and one God. The mind is so conditioned and rigidly narrowed down to such a notion that anything else is not acceptable. He understood her perception and concept about faith. You can't compare Hinduism with any of the present leading religions where you have to believe in one concept of God.
He tried to explain to her: 'You can believe in one God and he can be a Hindu. You may believe in multiple deities and still you can be a Hindu. What's more - you may not believe in God at all, still you can be a Hindu. An Atheist can also be a Hindu.'
This sounded very crazy to her. She couldn't imagine a religion so unorganized, still surviving for thousands of years, even after onslaught from foreign forces.
'I don't understand but it seems very interesting. Are you religious?'
What can He tell to this American girl?
He said: 'I do not go to Temple regularly. I do not make any regular rituals. I have learned some of the rituals in my younger days. I still enjoy doing it sometimes'.
'Enjoy? Are you not afraid of God?'
'God is a friend. No- I am not afraid of God. Nobody has made any compulsions on me to perform these rituals regularly.'
She thought for a while and then asked: 'Have you ever thought of converting to any other religion?'
'Why should I? Even if I challenge some of the rituals and faith in Hinduism, nobody can convert me from Hinduism. Because, being a Hindu allows me to think independently and objectively, without conditioning. I remain as a Hindu never by force, but choice.' He told her that Hinduism is not a religion, but a set of beliefs and practices. It is not a religion like Christianity or Islam because it is not founded by any one person or does not have an organized controlling body like the Church or the Order, I added. There is no institution or authority..
'So, you don't believe in God?' she wanted everything in black and white.
'I didn't say that. I do not discard the divine reality. Our scripture, or Sruthis or Smrithis - Vedas and Upanishads or the Gita - say God might be there or he might not be there. But we pray to that supreme abstract authority (Para Brahma) that is the creator of this universe.'
'Why can't you believe in one personal God?'
'We have a concept - abstract - not a personal god. The concept or notion of a personal God, hiding behind the clouds of secrecy, telling us irrational stories through few men whom he sends as messengers, demanding us to worship him or punish us, does not make sense. I don't think that God is as silly as an autocratic emperor who wants others to respect him or fear him.' He told her that such notions are just fancies of less educated human imagination and fallacies, adding that generally ethnic religious practitioners in Hinduism believe in personal Gods. The entry level Hinduism has over-whelming superstitions too. The philosophical side of Hinduism negates all superstitions.
'Good that you agree God might exist. You told that you pray. What is your prayer then?'
'Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,'
लोका समस्ता सुखिनो भवन्तु !!! ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः !!!
'Funny,' she laughed, 'What does it mean?'
'May all the beings in all the worlds be happy. Let there be Peace, Peace,and Peace every where.'
'Hmm ..very interesting. I want to learn more about this religion. It is so democratic, broad-minded and free' she exclaimed.
'The fact is Hinduism is a religion of the individual, for the individual and by the individual with its roots in the Vedas and the Bhagavad-Gita. It is all about an individual approaching a personal God in an individual way according to his temperament and inner evolution - it is as simple as that.'
'How does anybody convert to Hinduism?'
'Nobody can convert you to Hinduism, because it is not a religion, but it is a Culture, a way of leaving life, a set of beliefs and practices. Everything is acceptable in Hinduism because there is no single Authority or Organization either to accept you or to reject you or to oppose you on behalf of Hinduism.'
He told her - if you look for meaning in life, don't look for it in religions; don't go from one cult to another or from one Guru to the next.
For a real seeker, He told her, the Bible itself gives guidelines when it says ' Kingdom of God is within you.' I reminded her of Christ's teaching about the love that we have for each other. That is where you can find the meaning of life.
Loving each and every creation of the God is absolute and real. 'Isavasyam idam sarvam' Isam (the God) is present (inhabits) here everywhere - nothing exists separate from the God, because God is present everywhere. Respect every living being and non-living things as God. That's what Hinduism teaches you.
Hinduism is referred to as Sanathana Dharma, the eternal faith. It is based on the practice of Dharma, the code of life. The most important aspect of Hinduism is being truthful to oneself. Hinduism has no monopoly on ideas. It is open to all. Hindus believe in one God (not a personal one) expressed in different forms. For them, God is timeless and formless entity.
Ancestors of today's Hindus believe in eternal truths and cosmic laws and these truths are opened to anyone who seeks them. But there is a section of Hindus who are either superstitious or turned fanatic to make this an organized religion like others. The British coin the word 'Hindu' and considered it as a religion.
He said: 'Religions have become an MLM (multi-level- marketing) industry that has been trying to expand the market share by conversion. The biggest business in today's world is Spirituality. Hinduism is no exception'
He said "I am a Hindu primarily because it professes Non-violence - 'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' means - Non violence is the highest duty. I am a Hindu because it doesn't condition my mind with any faith system.
A man/woman who changes his/her birth religion to another religion is a fake and does not value his/her morals, culture and values in life.
Hinduism is the original rather a natural yet a logical and satisfying spiritual, personal and a scientific way of leaving a life..
Tuesday, 17 September 2013
About Mahabharat
We all know some bits of it or at least with reference to Gita.
Well as I see it each character in that has is a very strong one and they do some amazingly righteous things as well as some outrightly foolish things ...or at least that seem in appropriate.
For example Bhishma makes the vow, a sacrifice for his fathers happiness . Very good intention so the blessing to live till he wants but partly the start of the Mahabharat. And the King wanting to remarry ...carried away by the looks of a woman and ignoring her selfish character!!!!
And then a princess covering her eyes since she was marrying a blind man! Now you can be his eyes but she chooses to shut hers!!!!
Drona asks for the right thumb of a pupil who worships him??? because he was honest and eager to learn!!!
And so many other people and incidences that teach you what to be aware of and how each act leads to another and then we have to live with consequences.
Well as I see it each character in that has is a very strong one and they do some amazingly righteous things as well as some outrightly foolish things ...or at least that seem in appropriate.
For example Bhishma makes the vow, a sacrifice for his fathers happiness . Very good intention so the blessing to live till he wants but partly the start of the Mahabharat. And the King wanting to remarry ...carried away by the looks of a woman and ignoring her selfish character!!!!
And then a princess covering her eyes since she was marrying a blind man! Now you can be his eyes but she chooses to shut hers!!!!
Drona asks for the right thumb of a pupil who worships him??? because he was honest and eager to learn!!!
And so many other people and incidences that teach you what to be aware of and how each act leads to another and then we have to live with consequences.
Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Soul & Water
In chapter 2 of the BG there is elaboration about how the soul does not have a beginning. And what does not have a beginning does not have an end.
An illustration to explain.
Water!!!
We know states of water : liquid, solid & vapour. We know forms: lakes, rivers, snow, ice, clouds, steam. And most of us can relate to the water cycle as well.
Now a river has a start and end and so does the cloud or lake. And maybe one can define the begining and end of rain as well.
But can someone say where the water cycle begins? or where water started??? does it start with the ocean or ends there?
Any form or state, its still water really.
Same for the soul.
An illustration to explain.
Water!!!
We know states of water : liquid, solid & vapour. We know forms: lakes, rivers, snow, ice, clouds, steam. And most of us can relate to the water cycle as well.
Now a river has a start and end and so does the cloud or lake. And maybe one can define the begining and end of rain as well.
But can someone say where the water cycle begins? or where water started??? does it start with the ocean or ends there?
Any form or state, its still water really.
Same for the soul.
Friday, 6 September 2013
Number 3 again
3 Gunas : Rajas, Tamas & Satwa
3 Tenses : Past , Present & Future
3 chakras above & below the heart chakra
3 states of matter - solid, liquid & gas
3 worlds : akash, patal & dharti
In war they used 3 colors for flags : red to attack, white to surrender & yellow for friendship
and we say 3 dimensional!
and its the 3rd eye related to enlightenment !!
not to forget that Arjun was the 3rd Pandu putra !!!
and the Pandav's & Kauravs were the 3rd generation to Bheeshma !!!!
3 Tenses : Past , Present & Future
3 chakras above & below the heart chakra
3 states of matter - solid, liquid & gas
3 worlds : akash, patal & dharti
In war they used 3 colors for flags : red to attack, white to surrender & yellow for friendship
and we say 3 dimensional!
and its the 3rd eye related to enlightenment !!
not to forget that Arjun was the 3rd Pandu putra !!!
and the Pandav's & Kauravs were the 3rd generation to Bheeshma !!!!
Thursday, 5 September 2013
Teachers Day & Gita
September 5th is celebrated as Teachers Day in India and as per Gita each day is teacher & student day.
Reading the Gita everyday and practicing its principles is the best tribute we can pay to the ultimate teacher : Krishna
Reading the Gita everyday and practicing its principles is the best tribute we can pay to the ultimate teacher : Krishna
Sikhism & Gita
The Sikh religion is amongst the youngest and there is a school of thought that says because its young and new its refined and contemporary, just like latest technology / models are better than the previous ones.
Another school of thought is that Sikhs came from Hindus and hence are a subset of Hinduism.
My way of looking at it is that Sikhs made the Book - Granth Sahib, greater than people, Guru's & rituals. They said the word is higher than all else.
And followers of Gita say exactly that....what is in the book , above all else!
And if someone has read both in detail am sure there will be loads in common for what is written.
Another school of thought is that Sikhs came from Hindus and hence are a subset of Hinduism.
My way of looking at it is that Sikhs made the Book - Granth Sahib, greater than people, Guru's & rituals. They said the word is higher than all else.
And followers of Gita say exactly that....what is in the book , above all else!
And if someone has read both in detail am sure there will be loads in common for what is written.
Tuesday, 3 September 2013
Divinity in you
Everyone is bestowed with some talents. These talents are not for ourselves. A musician has a good voice, not to sing in the bathroom; his good voice is to entertain others. A writer has a good grip on the language, not to write letters to oneself and keep reading; a writer’s talent is to make others enjoy and stimulate their intellect. Similarly, if you have a good sense of humor, you can’t keep laughing at yourself; your sense of humor is of no use for yourself, it is for everybody else. Everything that you are bestowed with is to share with others, with society. If you are a good surgeon, you can’t operate on yourself. A good surgeon’s skills and knowledge are no good to him when he needs it; he has to go to some other surgeon.
We all have a bit of God in us...
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